Mr. Fijodor: New Works Include People, a Bird, a Tiger and the Natural World

Italy’s Mr. Fijodor has three new projects to share with BSA readers that he recently completed, despite the obstructions that have affected “normal” life.

“Some works have been interrupted, some never started,” he says, “and now slowly – but fortunately – they are slowly returning to their ‘work in progress.’ ” A graffiti writer since 1994, he has continued to evolve his art and art practices, which now include urban muralism and street art.

Mr. Fijodor. “Gattigre in equilibrio precario”. Modena, Italy. October 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)

The first wall is about a tiger balancing on the edge, a symbol of disappearing species. Here in Montale, a hamlet of Castelnuovo Rangone in the province of Modena, a wall for Rosso Tiepido, a cultural local association. He’s calling it “Gattrigre in equilibrio precario!” (the precariously balanced tiger).

In the era of dissipative consumption, resources are disappearing faster and faster. In 50 years 60% of animal species have been lost. Pollution and wild deforestation threaten biodiversity on a daily basis, exposing it to constant risk. Gattigre is a reinterpretation of the condition of the tiger, which, due to poaching and climate change, risks extinction. It stands in balance, precariously in fact, on shopping trolleys, a metaphor for our lifestyle that is increasingly geared towards consumption and the frenzy of having.”

Mr. Fijodor. “Gattigre in equilibrio precario”. Modena, Italy. October 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)

“Street Art Between Underground Culture and Contemporary Values”

His second project is more of a development project that he did over a ten-month period with artist Fabrizio Sarti (aka SeaCreative). A mélange of themes that include climate change, immigration, and peace, it may not be completely clear to the passerby, but they are sure that they used only ecological and non-polluting sprays and paints. MrFijodor says that area youth supported the artists during the project and he was glad to include them.

He says the project is part of a redevelopment action in the Brione district in Rovereto promoted by Cooperativa Sociale Smart with the contribution of the Municipality of Rovereto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.

Mr. Fijodor and Sea Creative. “Street Art Between Underground Culture and Contemporary Values”. Smart Lab, Rovereto, Italy. August 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)
Mr. Fijodor and Sea Creative. “Street Art Between Underground Culture and Contemporary Values”. Smart Lab, Rovereto, Italy. August 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)
Mr. Fijodor and Sea Creative. “Street Art Between Underground Culture and Contemporary Values”. Smart Lab, Rovereto, Italy. August 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)

“A factory and a bird”: Mrfijodor for “Innesti” @ MCAMuseo a Cielo Aperto di Camo

And finally, “Innesti,” which he describes as “a graphic and illustrative work that tells an easily accessible story, free from too many involved concepts.

It’s the story of “a factory and a bird”, he says, and describes the longing for freedom during lockdown, the interaction between community and territory, and thinking of himself perhaps as a bird who flees the industrial city to take refuge in a rural place to recharge creativity.

That one is definitely easy to understand.

Mr. Fijodor. “A factory and a bird”. For “Innesti”: a MCA project, Camo’s Open Sky Museum. Camo, Italy. July 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)
Mr. Fijodor. “A factory and a bird”. For “Innesti”: a MCA project, Camo’s Open Sky Museum. Camo, Italy. July 2020. (photo © Mr. Fijodor)
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